Electric football game

ABSTRACT

An electric football game comprising a frame having a pair of operator controlled, movable play selectors thereon. A concealed third member is operatively interconnected with the play selectors and is moved thereby. A concealed electric light moves with the third member and registers selectively with exposed play indicia. A pair of normally open, operator controlled switches are connected in series with each other, the light, and an electric power source.

United States Patent 1191 Wyman 1 ELECTRIC FOOTBALL GAME [76] Inventor: Dennis G. Wyman, 4 Crestline CL.

Owings Mills, Md. 21117 22 Filed: July 25, 1973 21 Appl.No.:382,579

[52] U.S. Cl 273/94 R [51} Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 [58] Field of Search 273/85 R. 88, 94 R; 35/9 B. 31 C, 31 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029.834 2/1936 Prentice 273/94 R 2.039.740 5/1936 Sapp 273/94 R X 2.205.415 6/1940 Keely et all. 273/94 R 2305.463 12/1942 Alderman et a1. 273/94 R 1 51 Aug. 5, 1975 1372.851 4/1945 Prentice 273/94 R X 3.009262 11/1961 Moran 35/9 B 3.814.426 6/1974 Moe 273/94 R Prinmry E.\urrziuer-Anton O. Oechsle Assislanl Examiner-Harry G. Strappello [57] ABSTRACT An electric football game comprising a frame having a pair of operator controlled. movable play selectors thereon. A concealed third member is operativcly interconnected with the play selectors and is moved thereby. A concealed electric light moves with the third member and registers selectively with exposed play indicia. A pair of normally open, operator controlled switches are connected in series with each other, the light, and an electric power source.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUB 75 SHEET FIG. 8

j: lO9

ELECTRIC FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an electric" football game or the like which is entertaining, challenging, and educational and yet is relatively simple and low in cost. The inventive game includes a pair of play selectors each controlled by a player representing a team, one being offense and the other defense." The play selectors are operatively interconnected with a concealed third member which moves in response to (e.g., as the resultant of) selector movement. Movement of the concealed member causes electric light means to register with exposed indicia indicating yards gained or lost on a play. Play selector operation and concealed member movement are such that the indicated yards gained or lost reflect the outcome of the of fensive verses the defensive play selections. The electric light means is controlled by a pair of series switches, one for each operator, so that indicia registry is made only after both players have made their play selection. The device of the present invention is extremely simple and inexpensive and yet provides a game which requires skillful play selection, which is educational to the novice as well as to those more knowledgeable in football play calling, and which employs the desirable electric aspect.

Main objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide a challenging, low cost, improved electric football game embodying electric light means selectively registerable with indicia in response to play selection by offensive and defensive players. In a preferred embodiment, two play selectors are operatively interconnected with a concealed member through a differential linkage, the concealed member carrying the electric light means. The indicia may include, for example, translucent apertures with which the electric light selectively registers.

Further important objects of the invention are to provide an improved game of the above character which is stimulating and educational in that proper play selection by offensive and defensive players determine yards gained or lost, simulating actual football play calling, and one which is durable in construction and reliable in performance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the detailed description to follow taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top play view, partly broken away, illustrating an electric football game embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with additional parts removed or broken away, and in section, to further illustrate the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 taken along the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 5-5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 taken along the line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view ofa portion of FIG. 6 taken along the line 77 thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the switches, light, and power source employed in the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a football game, one type of entertaining and educational device in which the present invention finds particular use, is illustrated generally at 11 in FIGS. I3 and is seen to include a frame illustrated as a one-piece molded plastic member having peripheral side and end walls 15, 17 and 19, 21, inwardly tapered side and end walls 23, 25 and 27, 29, a longitudinal strut 24, and transverse struts 26, 28, 30. The walls 23, 25, 27, 29 ex tend downwardly and inwardly from the tops of walls 15, 17, 19, 21, respectively, forming somewhat of a football bowl" effect. A platform 32 is suitably sup ported upon and fixed to struts 24, 26, 28, 30 and may be printed with lines representing a football playing field. Decorative panels 32, 36, 38, 40 overlay and are suitably fixed to walls 23, 25, 27, 29, respectively. A base 34 is secured within the frame below the platform 32.

The game mechanism is seen to include a pair of elongated bars 35, 37 slidably supported in channel like supports 39, 41 integral with frame side walls 15, 17, respectively. Each of the bars 35, 37, has gear teeth 43 formed along its top edge and has one end pivoted to a transverse arm 45 by pins 47, 49. The other ends of the bars 35, 37 are formed with integral elongated flexi ble fingers 51, 53 bent into sliding engagement with end walls 19, 21, respectively. A pair of upstanding pins 52, S4 integral with the frame help guide each finger 51, 53. A pair of pointers 55, 57 extend through elongated slots 59, 61 in end walls 19, 21 and are fixed to fingers 51, 53, respectively, for movement therewith. A pair of substantially identical indicia panels 63 (only one shown) are fixed to end walls 19, 21 for registration with pointers 55, 57 in a manner to be described.

A pair of substantially identical (only one shown) shafts 65 are rotatably supported upon side walls I5, 17, and each has a knob 69, 71 located outside and a pinion 73 (only one shown) inside its associated side wall 15, 17. Desirably, the knobs 69, 71 are located in recesses 74, 76 formed in side walls 15, 17 for concealment purposes. The pinions 73 engage gear teeth 43 so that when the shafts 65, 67 are turned using knobs 69, 71, the bars 35, 37 are moved longitudinally along channel supports 39, 41 and shift transverse arm 45. As the bars 35, 37 move along side walls 15, 17, flexible fingers 51, 53 move along end walls 19, 21 and carry pointers 55, 57 with them. As will be understood, the effect of movement of bars 35, 37 on arm 45 can be additive or can cancel one another wholly or in part de' pending upon the direction of movement of bars 35, 37 relative to each other.

The transverse arm 45 is pivoted intermediate its length to an A-shaped carrier 77 which, in turn, is suspended from and slidably guided for movement along strut 24. As shown, a screw 79 and nut 81 interconnect arm 45, carrier 77, and strut 24, the screw 79 extending through an elongated slot 83 in strut 24. The slide 77 has an upwardly tapered end 85 closely underlaying wall 23 and carries a small electric bulb 87. The wall 23 in this area is provided with a plurality of parallel apertures 89 over which is disposed a translucent panel 91. The panel 32 is mounted over the wall 23 and has a window 95 exposing the translucent panel 91.

In use, the shafts 65 are turned by means of the knobs 69, 71 thereby causing the gears 73 to turn and the bars 35, 37 to move along their supports 39, 41. This causes the transverse arm 45 to pivot about and/or translate along strut 24, depending on the direction and extent of movement of bars 35, 37 relative to one another. Thus, if bars 35, 37 are moved in the same direction, the effect of their movement is additive and causes the transverse bar 45 to translate along strut 24. On the other hand, if bars 35, 37 are moved in opposite directions, their movements cancel one another, wholly or in part. The net effect is to pivot bar 45 about screw 79 and effect some or no translation of bar 45 along strut 24. Pivotal movement of arm 45 has no effect on slide 77, while translation of arm 45 along strut 24 imparts similar movement to slide 77.

The electric light bulb 87 is carried by a conductive plate 10] fixed to slide end 85. Another conductive plate 103 engages the base of bulb 87 and is also fixed to slide end 85. Electrical conductors 105, 107 connect plates 10], 103 to normally open switches 109, 111 carried by side walls 15, 17, respectively. As illustrated diagramatically in FIG. 8, another pair of conductors 113, 115 connect a pair of conventional, normally open switches 109, 111 to dry cell batteries 117 carried beneath frame wall 27. The switches 109, 111 are in series with each other, the batteries 117, and with light 87 so that both switches must be actuated closed" be fore light 87 turns on."

ln playing the game, two players position themselves adjacent opposite sides of the device near a respective one of the knobs 69, 71. Each player, one being on of fense and the other on defense, selects a play and turns his knob 69, 71 to position his bar 35, 37 accordingly. The play selected by each player is indicated by his pointer 55, 57 on the adjacent panel 63. As described above, movement of bars 35, 37 acts through pivots 47, 49 and pivots and/or translates arm 45. Slide 77 moves along strut 24 in accordance with arm translation, in effect the resultant of movement of bars 35, 37. Light 87 is caused to align with one of the apertures 89 so that each player then closes his associated switch 109, l l 1 and light 87 registers with the aligned aperture 89. The yardage gained or lost on the play is read on indicia 92 or 92' printed on panel 32 and aligned with the registered or lighted aperture 89.

The mechanism is constructed so that if the player on defense selects the proper play, in relation to that chosen by the player on offense, resultant movement of slide 77 causes light 87 to register with an aperture 89 aligned with indicia 92 or 92, indicating no gain or a loss of yardage. Conversely, if the player on offense outguesses his opponent on the play called, and the player on defense does not select the proper defensive play, a yardage gain is registered by light 87 on indicia 92, or 92'.

By way of example, the indicia on play indicator panels 63 can be designed indentically and can read, from left to right, long pass, short pass, option play, outside run, and inside run. lndicia 92 on panel 32 can read from left to right above apertures 89 and for one player on offense. 2O 1O 5 O 5 1O yards gained or lost. For the other player on offense, indicia 92 on panel 32 can read, from right to left below apertures 89, 15 5 10 0 5 0 5 10 yards gained or lost. Thus, for example,

if both players select long pass, a 5 yard loss is recorded. If the player on offense selects long pass and the player on defense selects inside run, a 15 yard gain is recorded. The resultant yardage gained or lost on each play can, for the example given, range from 20 yards gained to 5 yards lost. In each case, the resultant yardage gain or loss reflects what would be expected in actual football for the plays selected.

With the described arrangement, the players can remain at their station and be on offense or defense, and the resultant yards gained or lost are read on indicia 92 or 92' above or below apertures 89 accordingly.

it will be appreciated that the movable slide 77 carrying the light 87 which registers with apertures accomplishes the desirable effect of making the game electric in nature and having the attendant appeal to players. However, the electric aspect is achieved with a minimum of cost and complexity. Thus, the movable light, as distinguished from a panel of individual lights and switch contacts, or other complicated electric devices, achieves the electric effect at minimal cost.

Also, since the switches 109, 111 are in series, both must be closed to actuate light bulb 87 and this prevents one player from intentionally or accidentally determining what play his opponent has selected.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the mechanism is constructed to reward the player who outguesses his opponent. Inherently, the players are challenged to learn and understand football play calling and thereby learn to understand and enjoy football.

By the foregoing, there has been disclosed an improved football game calculated to fulfill the inventive objects set forth herein, and while a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described herein, various additions, substitutions, modifications and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. An electric football game comprising a frame, spaced indicia means including spaced translucent windows on said frame, yardage indicating indicia adjacent respective ones of said windows, said yardage indicating indicia including first and second oppositely arranged indicia, an electric light mounted on said frame behind said windows and movable to align with se lected ones of said windows, first and second play operators independently movable on said frame by first and second players, respectively, linkage means interconnecting said operators and said electric light and causing said light to move in response to movement of said operators to align with different ones of said windows, first and second play selection indicia on said frame adjacent said first and second operators, respectively, said first and second play selection indicia being identical, each of said operators having pointer means registering with the adjacent play selection indicia, said first and second yardage indicating indicia each including independent, oppositely arranged offensive and defensive yardage indicating indicia, whereby said first and second operators can be used for offensive and defensive, or defensive and offensive play selection, respectively, and switch means in series with said electric light and an electric power source, whereby said offensive and defensive players select offensive and defensive plays by moving their respective operators so that the pointer means thereon register with the play selection indicia representing the offensive and defensive plays selected,

6 lection, respectively, whereupon actuation of said switch means lights said aligned window and registers said yardage.

2. An electric football game as described in claim 1 wherein said electric power source includes battery means supported upon said frame.

t i t 

1. An electric football game comprising a frame, spaced indicia means including spaced translucent windows on said frame, yardage indicating indicia adjacent respective ones of said windows, said yardage indicating indicia including first and second oppositely arranged indicia, an electric light mounted on said frame behind said windows and movable to align with selected ones of said windows, first and second play operators independently movable on said frame by first and second players, respectively, linkage means interconnecting said operators and said electric light and causing said light to move in response to movement of said operators to align with different ones of said windows, first and second play selection indicia on said frame adjacent said first and second operators, respectively, said first and second play selection indicia being identical, each of said operators having pointer means registering with the adjacent play selection indicia, said first and second yardage indicating indicia each including independent, oppositely arranged offensive and defensive yardage indicating indicia, whereby said first and second operators can be used for offensive and defensive, or defensive and offensive play selection, respectively, and switch means in series with said electric light and an electric power source, whereby said offensive and defensive players select offensive and defensive plays by moving their respective operators so that the pointer means thereon register with the play selection indicia representing the offensive and defensive plays selected, and whereby said electric light is moved to align with the window adjacent the yardage indicating indicia representing the result of the offensive and defensive plays selected, said first yardage indicating indicia being used when said first and second operators are used for offensive and defensive play selection, said second yardage indicating indicia being used when said first and second operators are used for defensive and offensive play selection, respectively, whereupon actuation of said switch means lights said aligned window and registers said yardage.
 2. An electric football game as described in claim 1 wherein said electric power source includes battery means supported upon said frame. 